Compare/Head to head

Arc.dev vs Braintrust

Same facts, side by side: starting price, free tier, MCP, API and what each one is actually built for.

Starting price

Arc.dev

$15/hr

Arc.dev is a vetted talent marketplace for remote developers and other tech roles. Freelancers cost $15 to $110+ per hour, and full-time placements cost 20% of annual salary, paid only on hire. It fits US startups and tech companies that want pre-screened remote engineers without running the whole search.

Where Arc.dev fits

  • Startups hiring remote software engineers
  • Teams needing freelance developers fast
  • Companies hiring in LATAM or APAC
  • Hiring managers without a recruiting team

Braintrust

15% fee

Braintrust is a freelance talent marketplace plus an AI screening product. Employers pay a published 15% fee on talent payments, and talent pays nothing. It fits companies hiring contract engineers and specialists that want a transparent fee instead of a staffing agency markup.

Where Braintrust fits

  • Companies hiring contract engineers or designers
  • Teams wanting contract-to-hire flexibility
  • Employers that want a published fee
  • High-volume teams screening with AI voice interviews

At a glance

DetailArc.devBraintrust
Starting price$15/hr15% fee
Free tier–No–No
MCP server–No–No
Public API–No–No
Listed underSourcing, Job boardsSourcing, EOR, AI interviewing

Where they pull apart

Arc.dev

Stands out: Arc publishes its fees, which is rare among vetted developer networks: a clear hourly range for freelancers and a flat 20% of salary for full-time hires. HireAI screens applicants and auto-sources matching candidates, and every plan comes with a dedicated recruiter. Arc says full-time roles fill in about 14 days on average.

Watch out: A 20% of salary fee adds up quickly on senior engineering salaries. The freelance trial is described as risk-free, but the exact terms are not spelled out on the pricing page, so confirm them before you start. ATS integration is listed for full-time hires, but no ATS names are published.

Not the right fit for

  • Budget-conscious teams posting many roles
  • Onsite or local-only hiring
  • Employers who want to run their own job ads

Braintrust

Stands out: Braintrust publishes its 15% client fee, which is rare among vetted talent networks. The same company sells AIR, an AI voice interviewer that runs thousands of screens a day and syncs ranked results to Greenhouse, Lever, Workday, iCIMS and SmartRecruiters.

Watch out: The site now spans three products, including Nexus for operations automation, so the marketplace can be hard to find. The 15% fee also applies to direct hires and conversions within six months, and EOR services cost extra.

Not the right fit for

  • Buyers wanting a free trial period
  • Teams avoiding AI-led screening
  • Local on-site hourly hiring

Pros and cons

Arc.dev

  • Published hourly rates and placement fee
  • HireAI screening and auto sourcing included
  • Free replacement within the first three months
  • 20% of salary is costly for senior hires
  • Freelance trial terms are not detailed
  • No named ATS integrations

Braintrust

  • Published 15% client fee
  • No fees charged to talent
  • AI screening and EOR from one vendor
  • Same 15% fee applies to direct hires
  • AIR pricing only by quote
  • Mix of products can confuse buyers

What each one costs

Arc.dev

$15/hr

Arc.dev publishes two pricing models. Freelance hires are billed hourly at $15 to $110+ per hour depending on the talent, with a risk-free trial period of up to two weeks. Full-time hires cost a fee of 20% of the candidate's annual salary, paid only when you decide to hire, and Arc will match a replacement free of charge within the first three months if you are not satisfied. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Braintrust

15% fee

On the Talent Marketplace, employers pay a 15% service fee on payments to talent, and talent pays no platform fee. Direct hires, and contractors converted to employees within six months, cost 15% of first-year base salary. AIR is priced by interview volume and quoted by sales, and EOR or W-2 payrolling costs extra. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Common questions

Is Arc.dev cheaper than Braintrust?
Arc.dev starts lower, at $15/hr against 15% fee for Braintrust. That is the entry plan on each side, so the real number depends on seats and the tier you land on.
Can you try Arc.dev or Braintrust for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing.

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Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 4 Nov 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?